PTA requesting payment for football boots that are ours.

[WineIsTheAnswer]

DD1 lost her boots just before Christmas. She asked at lost property, checked lockers, asked teachers, reception etc I also asked teacher and checked lost property. Unfortunately cleaning the mud off weekly had worn away the name on the outside and the sticker inside had almost completely come off (dark inside so the only way of marking them.) So I accepted they were gone, my mistake not re-labelling them.

The school has a history of coats etc going missing only to turn up on the back of others with the label cut out a week later. The school does nothing in these cases.

Now I find them on the PTA FB page as part of a large picture of stuff for the next sale. I messaged the PTA lady and asked to collect them or asked for them to be left at reception so I can get them back. She responds saying all lost property is given to them by school at the end of term, they were handed to them at Christmas so they are now PTA. I explain they must of been handed in on the last day as I had checked lost property in the morning. I also think it's unfair, if you forget something on the last day it's automatically PTA's on the first day of term but I haven't said that yet.

She asked for proof, I told her the size, about the faded name (now she knows the name, she should be able to still make it out) and sent the online order receipt. She's now offering to sell me them back ahead of the sale as a goodwill gesture. I've told her I expect them to be returned to school on Monday and if they aren't will presume the PTA has stolen them. I'm being told I'm BU, so am I?

Owner of boots looked for them in lost property - they were not abandoned, nor lying around in lost property for weeks. To give them to the PTA on the day they show up in lost property is not reasonable at all. For the PTA then to refuse to hand them back on proof of ownership just shows what a stupid woman the OP was dealing with. If the school cannot run its lost property system properly, so that it knows what has and has not been abandoned (ie if it doesn't have time to log items in and out), then it doesn't really have any business giving everything to the PTA to sell at the end of term.

Oh how silly. Items have been claimed, should be returned. If that was my school I’d be having a word with the PTA lady about please not alienating those few parents who actually pursue lost items! Ridiculous to ask you to pay for boots you’ve identified as yours. If you’ve got evidence of seeking them out etc there really should be no argument!

Apart from anything else, PTAs rely on parent goodwill. This is not a way to achieve that. It's awful behaviour.

Agree to take this up with the responsible teacher. Though I pity them - if they're that much of a nightmare for you over this, imagine being the staff contact?

Ahhhh the PTA ...Let’s leave it there .

Is pta a big deal at secondary school or does the pta fuckery mainly happen at primary school

I happen to have a police detective dozing in the same room. He's meant to be revising for response driver course that starts tomorrow.

I have roused him and he says:

They're not making reasonable efforts to find the owner. If the boots had been in lost property for a few weeks they might be able to claim they had made reasonable efforts, but not if it was just a few days.

So it's theft by finding. Theft Act 1968. Boom. (His exact words, don't know if that's how he gives evidence in court).

While I'm at it, I'm pretty active PTA wise and this type of carry on would never enter my head, nor would it enter the heads of most of the PTA.

I have recently become the chair of the PTA at dd's school, this thread has lots of tips on what not to do! Thanks..
Most PTA people are just trying to to their best to help the school but still have to fit things in around the rest of our lives so please try and support not ostracise us!

@KingLooieCatz
I really want to believe that is what he says when he solves a crime

£10?! She’s having a laugh. We’re living in a wellmoff area and PTFA are constantlynorganising sth 🙄 but the sales have items at 50p or £1! Uniforms, logo branded cardigans or books and toys.

Let us know how you get on on Monday x

@LipstickHandbagCoffee

In my experience we left all the fuckeittery at primary.

PTA at DS's Grammar is very well run and regarded. Sensible and successful fund raising efforts designed to be inclusive. Parents encouraged to help out but certainly no grandstanding. Cakes of all flavours, shapes and decorative value are gratefully received as are bottles of Cava and Bath Salts for the raffle

I have to say my experiences at primary were hopefully in excess of the norm though .

Apparently it's all calmed down now as Alpha mum left the PTA when her child went to secondary. Mother of sons friend I mentioned below has 4 children so still has links with the primary re: her youngest and mentioned that the new PTA Head is very approachable and sensible.

She sounds like a PITA. It's not finders keepers.
Maybe school will reword policy so it's anythinh uo to the penultimate week goes to PTA if not claiked by the end of term. Items from the final week go forward for next half term.
That should clip the wings of over zealous PTA parents. Seriously, how hard would it have been to say 'oh right. They must have been passed across later on Friday. I'll put them in reception to collect'.

Love this thread.

Yes, they are yours in law. Email the PTS specifying that they are your and that they have no legal title to them and that you do not give them permission to sell them.

The PTA woman is completely out of order on this one, and so is the school if they support her actions.

They cannot reasonable think they get to sell your daughter's boots because they scooped them up on the day she lost them. They just can't.

I would go very, very public amongst the school population if they are not returned with an apology at this point.

Suspect the DM will pick up a story like this, too, btw. Prepare yourself.

Theft by finding is now an offence so technically she’s handling stolen goods.

I'm going to try quoting that when they next try and get me to put the rancid, bug-infested lost property into my pta stock.

Laughing at all the mn sofa detectives and and pouffe solicitors conversant in minutiae of theft
Imagine if there ever were,like,a real proper hes a bad in crime.mn would implode
In an incandescent haze,quoting feverishly

Speak to Head and threat with action, this is insane!! My dd's stuff has accidentally been picked up by other kids, gone home and never seen again, if it's in good nick the labels get replaced. Makes my blood boil.

If this was a one off donation to them I wouldn't be as annoyed but they are constantly fundraising and asking for money. So I give my fair share. And it's not a donation as they are trying to force me to pay.

Give her the £10, take the boots, then tell her that was the last of your donations to the PTA this academic year.

You'll probably save yourself a few quid!

I’m aghast that things go missing and labels are removed to conceal the ownership

What the AF !😱
OMFG !... about sending proof !... what an ABSOLUTE piss take ! !
Simple !... these belong to you !
This is 100% Theft by finding ! She is breaking the law !
All this emailing proof ... sorry op but i woukd personally take this as her calling me a liar !
Seriously who would try to claim second hand football boots as their own from a school PTA sale.
I hope she steps on 11 bits of random lego everyday for the rest of her life ! 😜

Well done OP, hopefully the DH will see sense and you’llget then returned tomorrow

That’s outrageous I’m chair of our PTA and I would never even consider making you pay to have them back. I have a blanket policy of believing the parents at the school no matter what because I’d rather lose a few quid than lose good will. If you told me they were yours you’d have those shoes back no questions asked.